Miramar Beach Creative Campus Update

Hello, Arts Supporters:

One thing is certain here at the Cultural Arts Alliance: things are always changing. This usually signifies growth, but it can also mean a pause, sometimes not by choice. This provides an opportunity to evaluate our programs and services for improvement, which can then lead to more growth and opportunity.

We have been fortunate to work with individuals and businesses over the years who have supported the development of many of those programs, including providing affordable brick-and-mortar spaces that have housed our beloved Foster Gallery. For the last two years, we have had a beautiful home at the Miramar Beach Creative Campus. It is with gratitude and also sadness that we announce its closing this month, as the building has been sold and will become home to a new local business.

In the near future, the CAA will centralize its arts education operations at the Bayou Arts Center in Santa Rosa Beach. The studio and office spaces are being redesigned to accommodate the expansion of our pottery program and open studio, as well as our traditional visual arts classes and special offerings. Several improvements have already been made to the space, including new lighting, flooring, and power upgrades to support the additional ceramics equipment needed to meet the high demand for this popular program.

The Foster Gallery will be temporarily closed until we find a permanent location. In the meantime, we have expanded our partnerships with local businesses to provide spaces for CAA Member Artists to display and sell their work. These locations include the Coastal Branch Library, Emerald Coast Theatre Company, and the Point Washington Medical Clinic. Stay tuned for more exhibition opportunities as we add more community collaborators.

We are looking forward to the future, but we want to take this chance to honor our past and everyone who has helped us achieve our goals. We want to express our sincere thanks to the artists who have entrusted us with their work, the enthusiastic patrons who support the arts, our Board of Directors, and all who have visited our doors over the years to be part of the experience. We are especially grateful to Shawn & Richard Tomasello for providing us with the Miramar Beach Creative Campus space. Their generosity has enabled the CAA to increase artist involvement in the gallery, expand our pottery studio program, and extend our outreach programs. Without the Tomasello’s financial and in-kind contributions, we would not have been able to call such a beautiful space our home for the past two years. Their support has allowed us to grow and scale our pottery education program, fulfilling a significant need for 3D arts education. The Tomasello's ongoing support as benefactors of the arts in Walton County is invaluable to us, and we are fortunate to have their trust and backing.

Thanks to our Director of Administration, Lee Greene, Program Manager Pam Singh, Lead Pottery Instructor Jessica Batson, and other teaching artists who have been instrumental in leading the MBCC operations over the past two years. I would also like to extend my gratitude to Donnelle Clark Reagin, Mary Redmann, Skip Deems, Mindy Moore, and numerous other gallery artists for their tireless volunteering efforts since the Foster Gallery’s inception, which have been crucial to ensuring its success.

During this period, we have showcased the works of over 200 artists, resulting in the sale of more than $525,000 worth of original artworks. We have also hosted over 50 quarterly rotations and special exhibitions, complete with opening receptions for artists and arts enthusiasts. Furthermore, we have provided field trip opportunities for over 700 area students, allowing them to experience a professional gallery space. Our educational programs have offered income earning opportunities for our creative community. Additionally, we were honored to be the Florida host gallery for the Southern Prize for Visual Arts.

While this pause is not permanent, it presents an opportunity for us to make strategic decisions about the future of the gallery, arts education programming, and methods to further engage with the community we serve. Thank you for being a part of our journey!

With thanks,

Jennifer Steele

President & CEO